Japan - What remains

What remains:
Random conversations with delightful people
The overwhelming impact of Miyajima and Hiroshima
The surprising glow of the Autumn leaves they said I was too early to see
And of blazing red torii, Miyajima, Fushimi,
Serene shrines and temples, Meiji, Tō-ji,
Beautiful ones like Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji
And ones for fun days out like Arashiyama, Senso-Ji and Kiyomizu that I can never spell.
The joyousness of the 'Ohaiyo Gosaimasu' 'Arigato Gosaimasu', 'Konnichiwa' and their surprise if I slip in local dialect like Kyoto's 'Okini' for 'thanks'.
Superfast trains and slow ones with wide windows over mountain views, and dinky trams
Kind women looking after me as guides and in hotels
The craziness of Shibuya's Halloween,
Cat cafes and lottery-menu restaurants
The fiendish Ninja temple in Kanazawa
Random English: In a remote town, all in Japanese except the 'Safety tower'
Gorgeous gardens like that of the Shogun's house and Tokyo palace
The stunning luxury of Iwaso, Hanaougi ryokans and their onsen baths
Silk painting at the Yuzen centre
Soba noodles, duck kebabs from Camo Shotto Negi, the care and presentation of the food,
Stunning Kabuki theatre, more of the 47 loyal ronin
Real herons and Origami cranes.

The not-so-goods: the two men who waved me off dismissively
When.I asked them for directions
The confused layout of Shimbashi station
The awful hotel room in Hakone,
The frustration of my poor Japanese and
The confusion caused on 2 occasions
The nastily unidentifiable fishy dishes in Kaiseki menus
And the end of a wonderful trip

LMC 12 Nov 2016 Tokyo

Enjoy the view

Dashing down this glorious Autumn mountainside
Trying to remember that fretting about my train
Won't make this late taxi go any faster
Ps we made it with 15 mins to spare

LMC12 Nov 2016 on the way to Odawara station

Miyajima

Here I am, Dad, I whispered, as
I stepped off the boat
And promptly burst into tears
The fairytale of Miyajima told all my life
Has now come true
And you're not here to see it

LMC 8Nov2016